Theatresports Schools Challenge - presented by Impro Australia

Congratulations to the schools, the cast, crew, production team and volunteers, who all contributed to the success of the Intermediate & Senior TheatreSports™ Schools Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at the Enmore Theatre on Sunday June 16th.

A special thank you to all the teachers, coaches, school communities, family & friends for your support throughout the Heats, Semis & Grand Finals.

Both the Intermediate and Senior TSC shows were brilliant, with an incredibly high standard of playing all round. The students’ teamwork, creativity, playfulness, talent and sheer joy were all on display in abundance.

8 Teams in each division entertained, enthralled and delighted us in their quest for glory and, of course, for the TSC Champions Cups. In the end, both Grand Finals were close - congratulations to our TSC 2024 Champions:

Senior - NEWINGTON COLLEGE
(Narrowly pipping St Andrews by 1 point)

Intermediate – SHORE SCHOOL
Champions after a 3-way tie for 1st place with St Andrews and Newington on the day. (The result decided by the teams’ Semi-Final scores)

Congratulations to our 2024 Elliott Miller Award Recipients
(for an outstanding, generous & supportive performer):

Senior: AUDREY STORER - INTERNATIONAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Intermediate: KAI HOOK - INTERNATIONAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

We’ll be back in Term 4 for the Primary (Years 5 & 6) & Junior (Years 7 &8) TSC…

Congratulations to all the teams in this year's TSC Junior Division.

The season wrapped up with a Grand Final at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield - thanks for your gracious hosting!

The teams delighted the audience with their joy, their high standard of play, and their creativity, imagination & inspiration.

Taking the cup on a hard-fought night of TheatreSports™ were the team from Arden Anglican College.

See you next year!

Congratulations to all the teams and players, the cast, crew, volunteers, and the production team who all contributed to the success of the TheatreSports™ Schools Challenge (TSC) Grand Finals 2023.

A special thank you to the teachers, coaches, school communities and family & friends for your support throughout the 2023 TSC.

The joy of improvisation, supportive teamwork, spectacular play and brilliance were all on show at the TSC Intermediate and Senior Grand Finals at the Enmore Theatre on June 18th.

10 Teams in each division entertained, enthralled and delighted audiences, as they battled it out for the TSC Champions Cups.

Congratulations to our TSC 2023 Champions:
Intermediate - NEWINGTON COLLEGE
Senior - ROSEBANK COLLEGE

Congratulations to our 2023 Elliott Miller Award Recipients
(for an outstanding performer who is generous & supportive of their team):
Intermediate: GUS MCCALL - Roseville College
Senior: AUDREY STORER - International Grammar School

Julie Dunsmore,
Director/ Producer,
TSC Grand Finals 2023

THIS JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS...
GET YOUR TEENS OFF THEIR SCREENS !

TheatreSports™ Holiday Workshops

Fun, Creative. Interactive.

ALL WELCOME - no TheatreSports™ or drama experience needed.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1014909...&

Learn classic TheatreSports™ games, create hilarious characters & stories on the spot, and have a heap of fun & laughs...with the best TheatreSports™ teachers in Sydney !

2-Day Workshops for 10-15-year-olds
Wed 5th & Thu 6th July, 10am-4pm
DARLO DRAMA
16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst
Just 5 mins walk from Hyde Park & Museum Station

For all Enquiries, please Contact Brooke Oldfield: [email protected]

Impro Australia, the Home of TheatreSports™

😲 GET YOUR TEENS OFF THEIR SCREENS THIS APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! 😀

TheatreSports™ Holiday Workshops
Fun, Creative and Interactive.

2-Day Workshops for 10-15-year-olds
WED 12 & THU 13 APRIL

ALL WELCOME - no TheatreSports™ or drama experience needed.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=937177&

Learn classic TheatreSports™ games, create hilarious characters & stories on the spot, and have a heap of fun & laughs...with the best TheatreSports™ teachers in Sydney !

DARLO DRAMA
16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst
Just 5 mins walk from Hyde Park & Museum Station

For all Enquiries, please Contact Brooke Oldfield: [email protected]

VALE KEITH JOHNSTONE
(21 February 1933 – 11 March 2023)
From LYN PIERSE & MICHAEL GREGORY
Like so many around the world, we're saddened by the death of educator, playwright, actor, theatre director, and the creator of TheatreSports, Keith Johnstone.
Our lives have been immeasurably enriched by Keith's spirit of play, exploration, thinking less, being obvious (rather than being “interesting”), making your fellow performers look good, risk-taking and commitment to "getting it wrong" as essential ingredients of the learning and creative processes.
LYN PIERSE
(Inspiration and mentor to many, and widely referred to as The Godmother of TheatreSports in Australia)
Keith Johnstone has changed more lives than any of us can ever imagine.
I had experienced Keith’s teaching methods via a third party in 1974. I was 19, at Teacher's College, and began exploring the games with actors in performance and in classes with students. I had read Viola Spolin and worked with Dorothy Heathcote, but reading Keith's book in 1980 opened a magic door to the whole new dimension of Keith Johnstone's mind.
Genius is a word much overused, but in the case of Keith Johnstone, it is warranted. Keith saw ordinary life through a different prism. He understood imaginative play and the process of learning in action. His understanding and invention of practical methods to free ordinary people to 'play’ in public solitude is his great gift to us all.
When I met him, I was astonished. With well spoken, seemingly low physical energy, he managed to side-coach unsuspecting, yet willing, students to extraordinary results. How did high energy antics and hilarious outcomes result from such calm, quiet teaching?
To be in his classes was an honour.
His classes were a 'safe place'.
His humility was a lesson in itself.
He was politically aware, environmentally ethical and honest.
His teaching in Sydney was a milestone event for our company - while we were buzzing from his classes, he was simply thrilled to watch the moon rise over Coogee Beach.
I can't imagine life without Impro.
None of us can. It's our life blood. It feeds our soul.
We owe it all to Keith.
Vale Keith Johnstone.
You Mighty Moose!
MICHAEL GREGORY
I fell into TheatreSports somewhat by accident. It was the tail end of the 1980's, and I'd just returned from 2-and a-half-years overseas, and had heard about this thing called TheatreSports. I bought a ticket and went along to The Belvoir St Theatre on a Sunday night.
I’d done a fair bit of scripted theatre before going overseas but I hadn't experienced anything like this - actors daring to walk onstage with only the vaguest idea (if that) of what they were about to do or say. The audience not behaving like theatre audiences we've come to expect - they weren't sitting politely watching and listening - they were an active and rowdy part of the show. Then the host (Paul Chubb) and Timekeeper (Dennis Watkins) started throwing Minties into the crowd, who’s screaming and frantic scrambling over each other to get a Mintie and hold it aloft triumphantly was underscored by Mr Music (Chris Harriot - whose son, Nick, is also an accomplished TheatreSports muso).
The following week, I was somehow convinced to play in a team, even though I didn't know any of the games. Our team was called Certain Women (the name of a 1970's Australian TV drama), we wore dresses and carried teapots onstage...what had I gotten myself into? My teammates that night (if memory serves me correctly) were Vicky Haniotis, Laurel McGowan...and a young upstart named Andrew Denton. At some point in the night, I ended up spending most of a scene under a large carpet that had been taped to the Belvoir stage - there really were few rules to this thing...and those that did exist were happily broken in a moment of inspiration.
Improvisation has given me so much over the years: freedom, a sense of belonging, the unbridled pleasure of inhabiting a world where you get to write your own story...every time you walk onstage. I’ve seen the spark of inspiration when a student (or an IT person in a corporate workshop) discovers a side to themselves that they didn’t know existed – turns out, despite their protests, that they do have an innate creativity and sense of humour…which just needed some play to be coaxed out.
I have had the good fortune to meet some of the best and brightest people I know through impro & TheatreSports. I've even managed to cross off a bucket list item, when I had the joy of playing TheatreSports with my son, Jordan (a brilliant improviser in his own right). Shameless plug warning! Catch Jordy in TheatreSports All-Stars at The Enmore on May 21st.
On behalf of everyone who has performed with or been a student of Impro Australia (TheatreSports Inc. in a past life) or helped bring our shows to the stage, or been a rowdy audience member over the past 30 plus years, thank you Keith...your spirit lives on!

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN FOR TERM 2's INTERMEDIATE & SENIOR TSC (TheatreSports® Schools Challenge)

HEATS START THE WEEK OF MON MAY 1st

DOWNLOAD A REGISTRATION FORM AND FIND FURTHER DETAILS HERE: http://improaustralia.com.au/theatresports-schools-challenge-tsc/
..OR JUST DOWNLOAD THE REGO FORM HERE: http://improaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TSC-Registration-IntSen-2023-04.02.23.docx

Looking for something Fun, active & interactive this September School Holidays?

How about our 2-Day TheatreSports® Workshops for 10-15-year-olds?

Wed 28th & Thu 29th SEP
DARLO DRAMA, 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst - just 5mins walk from Hyde Park & Museum Station

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=937177&

$175 FOR 2 FUN-FILLED DAYS OF IMPROVISATION & THEATRE GAMES !

Learn classic TheatreSports® games, create hilarious characters & stories on the spot, and have a heap of fun & laughs...with the best TheatreSports® teachers in Sydney 😄

Great for beginners – no TheatreSports® experience needed - and anyone playing in the TheatreSports® Schools Challenge

PLACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED SO WE CAN OFFER EVERYONE THE BEST EXPERIENCE..SO DON'T MISS OUT!

For all Enquiries, please Contact Brooke Oldfield: [email protected]

If you're on the North Side (or even if you're not) - here's an opportunity to support youth theatre...as a player or as audience. This is being run by Chantal Harrison, who took some classes with us a while back and is now flying the improvisational flag on The Northern Beaches 🚩

Let’s get fundraising!!! Share widely xx

Celebrity TheatreSports® 2022
HOSTED BY ANDREW DENTON !

Guest Celebrities and TheatreSports® impro legends create comedy magic for a cause! Canteen supports young people (aged 12-25) when cancer turns their world upside down.

BOOKING LINK HERE: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CELEB22

Co-host & Timekeeper JOSIE O’REILLY,
Improvising Musical Maestro BENNY DAVIS
Directed by JULIE DUNSMORE

Starring: GEP BLAKE, AMANDA BUCKLEY, DAVID CALLAN, EWAN CAMPBELL, JESTIKA CHAND,
BENITA COLLINGS, DANIEL CORDEAUX, MURRAY FAHEY, RU HALWALA, JOHN KNOWLES, ALEX LEE, JEFF MESINA, NICOLA PARRY, SANA QADAR, JIOJI RAVULO, LISA RICKETTS, JANE SIMMONS, GEOFF SIRMAI, ADAM SPENCER, TAHIR, LINETTE VOLLER, KATE WILKINS and more…

It’s Impro’s gala event of the year - when the stars come out to play!

Teams of Celebrities + TheatreSports® Stars face crazy comedy challenges and ad-lib their way to glory, playing for the coveted Celebrity TheatreSports® Cup

There’s no rehearsal, no prep time...and no safety net...It’s on-the-spot, seat-of-the-pants stuff - hilarious games, challenges and comedy skits – from songs and poems to scenes in all kinds of styles – teams compete for audience laughs and the judges’ scores.

“Unbridled hilarity. Don’t miss it” - Blitz
“The Best of the Best” - Weekend Notes
“A hugely entertaining evening. Hilarious” - Sydney Arts Guide

Celebrity TheatreSports® celebrates the joy of improvisation and an opportunity to support, develop and empower young people impacted by cancer.

Parents, Players, Friends, Romans, etc.!
Videos of the TheatreSports® Schools Challenge 2022 Intermediate & Senior Grand Finals are now available for purchase.

INTERMEDIATE Grand Final video here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=913617&

SENIOR Grand Final video here:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=913630&

Australia’s biggest, freshest & funniest TheatreSports® Schools comp, the TheatreSports® Schools Challenge (TSC) reached its peak at Sydney’s iconic Enmore Theatre on Sunday June 12th, 2022. Eight teams in each division battled it out for the coveted TSC Champions Cup.

Congratulations to all our TSC teams, and our Grand Final Champions...

INTERMEDIATE: International Grammar School & St. Andrew's Cathedral School
(co-Champions)

SENIOR: St. Patrick's College, Strathfield

Registrations now open for the Term 4 Junior / Primary TSC - Details & Registration form here: http://improaustralia.com.au/tsc-faq/

The TheatreSports® Schools Challenge 2022 GRAND FINALS

Sunday June 12th - TWO SHOWS
INTERMEDIATE Grand Final 2pm
SENIOR Grand Final 5pm

Spontaneous. Daring. Laugh-out-loud funny!

Australia’s biggest, freshest & funniest TheatreSports® Schools comp, the TheatreSports® Schools Challenge (TSC) reaches its peak at Sydney’s iconic Enmore Theatre on Sunday June 12th, 2022.

After weeks of heats & semi-finals involving schools from all over Greater Sydney, the final eight teams in each division are ready to put their skill – and courage - on show, creating completely improvised scenes, stories & songs live, with no prep time – it’s thrilling theatre…without a safety net!

Teams will do everything they can to entertain the audience, impress the judges, bring glory to their school and claim the TSC ’22 Champions Trophy.

The TheatreSports Schools Challenge brings private, public & systemic schools together. Anyone can play TheatreSports and be part of the team.

TheatreSports® is the inspiration behind TV shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Thank God You’re Here! It’s been running in Sydney for over 35 years at the Belvoir St, Factory and Enmore Theatres, as well as The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Town Hall and the Sydney Opera House. TheatreSports® was the training ground for Australian comedians & personalities such as Andrew Denton, Ahn Do, Julia Zemiro, Alex Lee, Shaun Micallef, Wil Anderson, Adam, Spencer, Michael Hing, Susie Youssef, Frank Woodley, Claire Hooper, The Axis of Awesome, Jay Laga’aia, and many more.

INTERMEDIATE Grand Final Facebook Event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/3226550080936357?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22edit_dialog%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22permalink%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22edit_dialog%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

SENIOR Grand Final Facebook Event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/995864811064822/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22page_admin_consolidated_entry_buttons_row%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22create_dialog%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D